Valentine’s Day

You Can Make This Sweetest Day Truly Special

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Sweetest Day

Sweetest Day is a great opportunity to show the people in your life how much you appreciate them. In the everyday hustle and bustle, sometimes it is hard to show the people we share our lives with how important they are.

Christian Singles

If you are not familiar with this holiday, it is celebrated on the third Saturday in October. It is celebrated mainly in the Great Lakes region, along with areas in the Northeast United States. The city of Cleveland was the first ever to enjoy this special day. It was pronounced a holiday on October 8, 1921.

This celebration of love was originally planned and developed by a committee of 12 confectioners which was chaired by the candymaker C. C. Hartzell. Then the day was perpetuated by Frederick Sanders of Detroit, MI along with the Sanders Candy Company.

The original committee of 12 known as “The Sweetest Day in the Year Committee” distributed a grand total of over 20,000 boxes of candy on the first annual Sweetest Day. They gave these boxes of candy to; orphans, the poor, old folks and newsboys in Cleveland. This boosted the day’s popularity in Detroit greatly.

Any opportunity to let your special people know you appreciate them is a good thing. You should take the chance that Sweetest Day 2012 gives you and spread some cheer to those around you that make your life better in all the ways that count.

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A Valentine’s Gift for your Man, Whatever the Stage of the Relationship

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Christian Singles

As Valentine’s Day approaches most couples start to think of the card and present they’ll get to show each other that they care. If you’ve been in a relationship for a long time then you may have developed some sort of established routine, or thought up a new surprise to celebrate the day.

Young Love

When relationships are new and you have only been together a matter of weeks it’s not always easy to know what your new boyfriend might like as a Valentine’s gift. In the beginning a small gift is more appropriate, such as a CD of a singer that you know he likes, or perhaps a book or DVD.  If you want to get something a bit more personal, and you know his size, you might want to get him a shirt or some other unique menswear item, perhaps from a Hugo Boss or Barbour outlet.

Shopping for the man in your life is never easy, but most women get more adept at it as time passes. When you get to know each other better, perhaps when your relationship has passed the three months mark and you begin to think of yourselves as a couple.

When you have been seeing each other for a few months you are still getting to know each other, if you want the relationship to continue you might want to find him a Valentine’s gift that will impress. Even though you don’t know everything about each other, you’ll know whether your guy has a particular interest or whether he is into the latest gadgets. If you know he’s been coveting a particular boy toy, a particular radio controlled car for instance, then why not make his day with that present.

Getting Serious

If Valentines Day comes around when you have been together for six months or more then other people will see you as a couple and the relationship is probably on a more serious footing.

If the weather is still very cold, as it often is in February, you might want to get him that sweater, part of a unique menswear range that would bring out the blue in his eyes. If you want to give him a Valentine’s gift of a shared experience, then why not book a table at your favourite restaurant. When you’ve eaten you can produce cinema tickets for the film you’ve both been meaning to see, surprise him why don’t you?

Long Term Partners

Once you’ve been together for a year or two, you may be looking at the long haul; there are plenty of personalised gifts available at stores like a Versace or Barbour outlet. By now, if you’re like most young couples you’ve probably been on holiday together and have lots of things to talk and laugh about.

One of the things to emerge in recent years has been the gift of an experience, or better still a shared experience. It’s possible to book experience weekends and although these are often sought after by businesses for a corporate team building exercise a growing number of individuals and couples enjoy the experience.

Shared experiences are the things that help to build and cement a relationship and Valentine’s Day is one of the best times for doing this.

This article was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Anna Davies the renowned Barbour outlet who stock a great range of unique menswear ideal for gifts.

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9 Ways To Avoid Ruining A First Date

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Christian Singles

There’s a lot of pressure on a first date. First impressions aren’t always make or break, but they certainly count for a lot. Listed below are some of the dangers that must be avoided if you want to reach date number two. Follow this list of don’ts, and everything should be fine.

Don’t get drunk

If the date isn’t going well don’t think that turning to drink will get it back on track. Sure a little bit of alcohol will help you relax and be yourself, but misjudge this and things will only end horribly.

Don’t take a friend along for “moral support”

You might be feeling more nervous than you ever have before, but it’s probably best to go on your own. Even if your date is the most understanding person in the world, it’s unlikely that they’ll be happy for you to pull up an extra chair.

Don’t order the most expensive thing and then ask them to pay

This applies to both men and women. Obviously it’s traditional for the man to pay on the first date and if he offers that’s great. But if you like him don’t scare him off by demanding his money, especially if you’ve ordered lobster with caviar. If he’s a nice guy he’ll probably offer anyway.

Don’t talk about politics

It’s best to save this for a later date, when the foundations are strong enough for the relationship to survive. At best you’ll establish that you have similar views, and have a pleasant chat about healthcare. At worst it will cause a shouting match that only ends when your date storms out leaving you to foot the bill for their lobster and caviar. Why take the risk?

Don’t talk only about yourself

I don’t care how brilliant you are, nobody wants to listen to three hours of self-promotion.

Don’t be too touchy feely

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of flirting. Lightly stroking your date’s arm is acceptable. Grabbing them by the face is not!

Don’t go on about your crazy ex

This is a big mistake that a lot of people fail to avoid. Talking about your axe wielding ex-boyfriend who owns a Rottweiler, or an ex-girlfriend who’s been stalking you the last 15 years, and is sat at the next table, might just scare them off.

Don’t take their picture

You might be doing it with the best intentions, but it’s not cool. It’s just going to make you look weird and creepy.

Don’t forget to go

I know you’ve got a lot of things to remember, but make sure you don’t forget to go! Although if you’re planning to do too many of the above then maybe it is better for everyone if you just stay at home.

Despite her occasionally tongue-in-cheek tone, Alison Carmichael is really a romantic soul who gives expression to her feelings through blogging about Valentine’s Day and – just in case they are subsequently required – about all things wedding gift related!

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How to Date on a Budget Without Looking Cheap

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Ferris Wheel LoversWhen you fancy someone, money might be the last thing on your mind, but losing both your mind and your money over your crush is a terrifying scenario. Well, if you have already lost your mind, this article won’t help, but if you still have your money, keep reading!

Dating on a budget isn’t a “mission impossible”. All you have to do is plan in advance and stick to your plan. The choice of activities for a date on a budget depends on whether it is your first date or not, your location (if you live in the mountains then a walk on the beach is hardly a cheap date idea, because the nearest beach might be hundreds or thousands of miles away), and the likes and dislikes of you and your date.

There are really a lot of ways to date on a budget and impress your date, but there are also tricky areas where you can end up looking cheap rather than savvy. For instance, to ask for a refund because you didn’t like the meal (though you actually ate it) is certainly a no-no. Using a coupon could also be regarded as cheap by some people. To most it is perfectly acceptable, but if you are not sure how your date will react, you might want to avoid coupons on a first date.

Now let’s look at some of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to date on a budget.

Christian Singles

1. Go the Exotic, but Cheaper, Way

Trendy restaurants are very expensive and the food they serve isn’t always top-notch. However, if both of you like Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mexican, or other ethnic food, an ethnic restaurant is the way to go. Local ethnic restaurants are typically less expensive but more exotic, so the experience will be really memorable.

2. Dine at Home

Dining at home definitely beats any restaurant. However, you need to spend time preparing the food. Of course, you can order food online, but this might be as expensive as dining out.

Additionally, if you are in the beginning of your relationship and you are still not 100% comfortable with each other, inviting your date home for dinner could be considered as a prelude to a “sleepover”, and many people of either gender will back off at such an idea this early in a relationship.

3. Go on a Picnic

If both of you love open-air activities and the weather permits, you can consider going on a picnic. You can take light food and some drinks, and that (plus your date) is all it takes to make a great picnic!

4. Parks and Beaches Are Excellent Date Locations

If a picnic sounds too time-consuming, you can always go for a walk in the park or on the beach. This is definitely a very romantic idea and chances are you will be able to remain just the two of you for a while.

5. Look for Free Events

Free events, such as art shows, wine tasting, sporting events, book promotions, etc. are a few more opportunities to explore. Usually metropolitan areas are rich in such events but even small towns do offer such attractions. The trick here is to find an event both of you like – otherwise one or both of you will be bored, and this might spoil the date.

6. Do Community Work Together

Community work helps to build not only communities, but couples as well. It’s also good for your happiness and confidence levels – giving to others really does make you feel good.

7. Honour the Happy Hour

While most of the ideas on this list are completely free, a happy hour isn’t. But it is traditionally one of the easiest choices. One of the disadvantages of happy hours is that it might be crowded and if you want a quiet evening with your date, this will hardly happen.

Dating on a budget can be fun. They say that money can’t buy you happiness, and it’s true – you might spend tons of money on a date just to see it go in a disastrous direction. If you and your date are soulmates, then these cheap date ideas will be very suitable for you. If your date laughs at your suggestions because he or she dreams of something fancier, then this could be a signal that you aren’t soulmates after all…

 

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This article is by Ada, a personal finance blogger who remembers only too well how frugal living doesn’t always go down great with a date! Right nor she’s obsessed with home insurance comparison and trying to make sure everyone knows how to find a policy that works for them.

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Why online dating scores better than conventional dating

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Christian Singles

Online dating has definitely caught the imagination of many singles all over the world who are trying to keep themselves abreast of the latest techniques used in finding a partner for life. With dating gaining popularity online, it has managed to change the lives of so many people since it was first introduced in the early nineties.

The process simply involves connecting with other individuals or community   through a website which puts up a list of prospects who are seeking for a partner. Alternatively you can also put up your own profile for other prospective dating singles to browse and respond. Many singles have found lasting friends through online dating and many others have found a life partner suitable to their taste.

Factors which could inspire online dating are
1.    Need for an online friend to share
2.    Pursuit of a lifetime partner for marriage
3.    The craving for discussion and debate with other people
4.    A solution for loneliness and solitude
5.    Addiction to the internet leading to aimless spillover to dating and chatting.
6.    Mischief mongers and other internet abusers

The first four factors make up the huge numbers of the online dating industry and as such are responsible for the flourish of online dating. Among them the first two are credited with being the lifeline of the industry. I find that the need for friendship is of equal to the need for a life time partner in marriage as friendship is sought more online due to various factors which has made people seek friends through the internet. However the basic function of online dating is to connect two people mainly of the opposite gender to come together and explore the possibility of leading a life together in marriage . The dating process simply helps the compatibility issue and allows you to gauge whether the person that you are dating with is good enough to live the distance with you or not.

Online dating sites also provide you with many valuable tips and guidelines to ensure that your dating experience is not sour due to many factors which may be linked to it. Among these, Christian dating advice is pretty sound and can be even applied by singles from other denominations to their own dating experiences to enhance their sense of  dating and keeping themselves and their date content and happy by adhering to some simple dos and donts.

Online dating is more advantageous to conventional dating since you can get to know a bit about the person in advance  although the same may not be accurate. Nevertheless you are informed a bit about the person’s likes and dislikes which can enable you to decide whether the date interests you or not

Compare that to conventional dating and you are in a complete blind alley where you don’t get to know whether the person you are meetings is even a vegetarian or not. Besides no physical attributes or details of the prospect is known to you and you have to meet before you can decide. Often such dates end on an embarrassing note and further communication is uncomfortable on both sides. Online dating does away with this major handicap.

Also online dating is no restricted to one community but spans across communities, regions and religions . you can have a wide choice. From regions to religions and languages there is one for everyone when it comes to dating online. The following dating communities are currently very active on the internet

•    Christian dating service
•    American Singles
•    Jewish dating service
•    UK dating
•    Filipino dating
•    Asian dating
•    Chinese dating
•    Hindu dating
•    Indian dating etc

In many Asian countries as well as some European and American states which have various classes and castes in society and separate communities within a broad religious head, there are separate dating groups to select from. This helps to narrow down choices and one can sift through various profiles of people who are closely related to your own community and then reduce the gap while checking the interests, hobbies, preferences, likes, dislikes etc so that the person that you choose for  a date is the closest to the one whom you would like to have as your friend or a partner.Despite the above checks you may not get the exact person that you were looking for but then at least you are making a studied  decision and not wasting your time aimlessly on all and sundry to get to your desired partner.

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Why Christian Singles need to Pay for a Date

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Christian Singles

Thousands and thousands of Christian singles on the internet all over the world are immersed into searching for the right single partner to spend their life with. However many of them end up on dubious sites of which they have little information nor any critical reviews. The challenge for them is therefore not about finding a Christian dating site as much as it is about finding the right one. If you are a Christian single serious about finding a partner for life  who shares your faith and your ideals then you should always consider signing up with a good Christian dating site.

Christian dating sites vs General dating sites

Christian singles find it much comfortable to link with prospective partners on christian dating sites other than general sites because christian dating sites offer them an opportunity to share something in common with other members of the same community and they can be subtly assured to be close to getting a partner who shares similar interests. Therefore the opportunity of such websites is huge and their reach, worldwide.

However the problem here is that christian singles often have the temptation to use free dating sites in preference to the paid ones. The thought of finding a partner being a serious one, it is not possible to achieve this objective on free sites which many Christians do not actively consider. People who register on free sites cannot be as serious as  those who register on paid sites. However in a bid to get a free listing many Christians ignore this hard reality and pursue some freebies on the internet in the hope of finding their lifetime partner

Paid sites vs free dating sites

Paid subscribers registered with any Christian dating website are obviously more intent on finding a partner for life and this can be gauged from the fact that they are willing to spend money on something which will define their life ahead. Christian singles need to consider this aspect before going headlong into online christian dating. So although you might have to pay some money to seek a partner, it is the most wisest thing to do instead of wasting time on free sites which have members who may be there just for fun or with little seriousness about marriage.

On free sites the added risk of being shown fake profiles is also a potent risk. Often, the free sense of the site allows for the thrill of many people to list out fake details about themselves as there is little deterrent against it.However on genuine sites with paid subscriptions such an eventuality is very rare as the people registered in most cases are genuinely interested in marriage.

This same scenario is also applicable to social networking sites which lure you into a chat even more faster and make you believe in their profile and it can be very difficult in such cases to identify the genuine people from the rest.

So while scanning on the internet it is better to seek a good christian dating site which has a good reputation and take a paid subscription which can give you a measurable chance of finding the right partner. Check some reviews on the site and go through some forums to confirm its reputation.However it is best to pursue your dating ambitions with christian dating sites rather than the others.

For a start, many christian dating sites offer a trial window to put you through the paces and also to check the efficacy of the dating system on their site. This is another indicator of the site’s confidence in their ability to retain you as a paid member on the basis of the merit of their services.So in case you wish to get started you could first take the free trial and subsequently decide on opting for the paid subscription.

A good profile is the key

For your dating passage to be smooth ensure that you make a good profile of yourself by listing out all your positives.Do not indulge in self flattery but be positive. Also be truthful in all that you state and do not copy somebody else’s profile although you may want to check other profiles to get a rough guideline on how profiles are built. But essentially be yourself.

So if you are indeed seeking  to find that elusive  Christian dating single for your life the first thing to reject are wholesale free websites which are useless in the long run and instead migrate your thoughts over to the paid sites which will reward your time and money and hopefully help you find the right partner for you to build a happy life together.

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